I had a thought today. (Fair warning, this gets a little woo woo toward the end....so get ready 💫)

I often hear parents say things like:

🥦My child will NOT eat vegetables.☕️I could never get my daughter to drink tea.🧘🏻‍♀️Sitting still for any length of time just isn’t possible for my son.

All of these are beliefs that we as parents have, on some level, accepted as truth.

My thought today was this: What if we could DECIDE to make something else true?

In asking this question, I already know the answer because I’ve seen it unfold countless times. I’ve seen parents DECIDE to shift what is true for their families over and over again.

I’ve seen a child go from complete unwillingness to be touched for a treatment; to walking in, taking their shoes and socks off, and offering me their feet for acupressure. I’ve seen a child go from daily hyper-energy; to mom telling me “I can’t remember the last time he was hyper.” I’ve had moms come in and tell me their picky eater gets excited when it’s time to take their herbs.

So how does it happen? It starts by asking some questions. First of all, what have you decided is true about your children? (P.s. this same technique can be applied to relationships, business, personal growth, and essentially anything else).

So... what have you decided is true, whether consciously or unconsciously, for your family??

Once you have your answer, you begin to DECIDE to make something else be true. Ask yourself...what feels better? What feels more aligned with the goals I have for my family? What feels like an expression of our fullest potential?? What feels like a stepping stone on our path to health and wellness?

Then, play around with the limiting beliefs and resistance that are holding you in alignment with the OLD thought pattern.

And finally...ENVISION the NEW belief as if it were already true. What would it look and feel like? What would it mean for your child/family/you? Get clear and comfortable there, in that new reality you have just created

It is SO crucial to support the Spleen of a child in any way possible. Pediatric Chinese medicine treatments are a great way to do this. If you have a child that is struggling with any of the above health issues, reach out to me to learn more about how Chinese medicine can help!!

The topic of supporting the Spleen (Earth element) will be a heavy focus of my upcoming masterclass, Breaking the Cycle of Pediatric Illness. Click below to get more info!

Western medicine is beginning to realize what Chinese medicine has known for thousands of years....that unprocessed emotions and stress are reflected in the physical body. Chronic disease in adults can often be traced back to roots in unprocessed trauma, grief, fear, and stress.

When it comes to children, it’s possible to catch these patterns early. Children will often act out or become inconsolable when they are in digestive distress. We know this is true of colicky infants. We also know this happens when kids are “sugared up” after a birthday party or perhaps a day at grandma’s house. The Spleen, responsible for digestion and absorption of nutrients in Chinese medicine, can easily becomes weakened by poor diet, over-nutrition (eating too much), antibiotics and other medical interventions, perceived stress, and more!

Placing focus on nutrition and digestive health in children will reap enormous benefits for LIFE (including increased focus, balanced energy levels AND mood, improved sleep, and stronger immune function).

If you feel your child could benefit from some digestive support, and want to know more about what that might look like, click below to schedule a discovery consult with Caitria.

I get so many questions about food. The level of confusion, frustration, and guilt that exists around the subject of food can be really overwhelming, and it’s part of my mission to clear things up. Here are two of the most common questions I get...answered!

❓What age should my child start eating solids?

The digestive system of a young child is very sensitive, and is the foundation of health. Around 6 months, a child can begin playing with and exploring new tastes, textures, and flavors when it comes to food. However, there is no need for nourishment to come from this food until the age of 1 or even later (for a breastfed child). Let your child guide their own journey with food, rather than forcing something they are not ready for.

*this is a basic rule of thumb, and it may not apply to every child. For specific questions with feeding/weaning, reach out to me for a consult. I’d love to help you navigate this exciting time!!

❓Am I depriving my child of a normal life if I don’t feed them the standard American diet?

I get SO passionate about the answer to this question. NO!! By switching Cheeto’s for sweet potatoes and Skittles for raspberries, you are nourishing your child in a way that will allow them to grow, thrive, and become the best version of themselves. You are arming them with the internal tools to fight off disease, learn and retain information in school, and maintain emotional balance. If you feel like you are depriving your child by feeding them healing foods, I challenge you to flip your perspective.

Instead of believing this ⬇️⬇️⬇️

My child is missing out/I am keeping them from some form of normalcy or happiness....

DECIDE to believe this ⬇️⬇️⬇️

I am feeding my child in a way that will allow them to thrive and maintain/achieve optimal health. I show my child love by providing them with the nourishment that their body NEEDS.

If you have questions about ANYTHING related to food and optimal health for children, click the button below to schedule a discovery consult with Caitria.

2019 is the Year of the Brown Pig! There is lots to know about the energetic forecast for this year....here are the highlights:

🐷Pig is the final animal of the 12 animal system, meaning that this will be a year of completion, conclusion, and tying up loose ends in all aspects of life.

🐷A Pig year is a great time to nurture family and friend relationships, and to spend time at home rather than doing lots of traveling. Aligning with these values will have favorable outcomes this year.

🐷2019 will be a positive year for the disenfranchised, as Pig energy is full of generosity.

🐷This is a great year for cultivating skills like cooking, gardening, and home organization.

🐷Cooking with ginger, garlic, green onion, and cayenne pepper will ward off digestive strain and respiratory issues that are on the horizon this year. Eating for Kidney and Urinary Bladder health is important this year too, as Pig is a Water element animal (Kidney and Urinary Bladder are the organs associated with the element of water).

🐷This year is an opportunity to find strength through our yin/feminine nature. Do this by looking inward, processing and expressing emotions, acting with compassion, and nurturing others. Connect to your feminine power, y'all!!!

🐷Being that this year is about cooking, gathering for meals, and spending time at home, it will be important to balance this with nourishing movement like qi gong, yoga, and pilates to prevent weight gain around the midsection like our friend the pig. Moving the qi by receiving bodywork, massage, and acupuncture is also highly recommended.

Author

As a Pediatric Chinese Medicine practitioner, I partner with parents on a healing mission to find the root cause of their child's illness/imbalance; and restore that balance through acupuncture, herbs, nutrition therapy, and lifestyle shifts.

What Our Clients Are Saying

"One of the most amazing things I have seen while working with Caitria is her ability to address health issues and the body with a wholistic approach. Awhile back, after a long day of flying, our son came down with 104 degree fever. I reached for all my natural ways to bring the fever down and then contacted Caitria. She was able to assist me greatly with directing me to which acupressure points would bring his fever down. Within 15 minutes of completing the acupressure protocol, his fever was down TWO DEGREES! Not .2 degrees, two whole degrees! Oh wow, was I relieved!"​-Heather H.

"My whole life I have struggled with muscle tightness all over my body along with anxiety, trouble sleeping, and severe migraines. Since I became pregnant, my body has become more uncomfortable and I was tired of feeling worse every day. I've connected with Caitria before for intuitive work, so I contacted her about how my body was feeling and she recommended acupuncture. Since my first appointment, I sleep better than I ever have, my body feels more energized and comfortable, and I haven't had any migraines. I plan on continuing with acupuncture treatment with Caitria throughout my pregnancy and post pregnancy to keep improving my body's health." -Sam D.

​"Caitria has helped me get rid of my migraines, as well as figure out what was causing them so that I could make changes to prevent them in the future. Working with her has definitely improved my quality of life, and I have learned a lot!" -Kayde T.

"As a distance runner, I've experienced a number of setbacks over the past few years (tendonitis, bulging discs, joint pain, Achilles issues). Where traditional physical therapy and pain relievers have provided temporary aid, the only lasting relief I've experienced has been through my work with Caitria. Her counseling and acupuncture techniques have proven invaluable to not only my performance in sport but, more importantly, overall quality of life." -Travis G.